Digital imaging | Forensic data analytics
Fast results to identify procurement fraud, collusion and kickbacks
A large petrochemical/energy firm approached Salient to assist in the identification of procurement fraud, collusion or kickbacks between staff and vendors in their African operations.
The Challenge
Our client’s investigation was likely to require in-country action (collecting relevant data by imaging laptops and mobile phones), which would trigger the locally legislated 30-day time limit for completion. Salient needed to identify potential suspects prior to arriving in-country for the data collection and utilise its AI-powered tools to deliver faster processing and reduced time for review.
Challenges
- Work within a 30-day legislated time-limit for local investigation
- Identify suspicious activity that could indicate procurement fraud/collusion/kickbacks
- Provide on-site device imaging and processing
Results
- Forensic data analytics used to flag suspicious/unusual activities
- Confirmed suspects identified for further investigation
- 6 suspects’ laptops and mobile phones imaged (in-country)
- AI used to accelerate processing and review of imaged data
- Dashboards created to assist in prioritising investigation
- Investigation completed within local legislation’s 30-day time limit
The Salient Solution
To limit the time required to complete the investigation after triggering the local 30-day investigation time limit, we performed preliminary forensic analytics to narrow down the suspect list to the most likely participants.
The Salient team then went onsite, in-country to image the suspects’ laptops and mobile devices.
This information was then processed and reviewed on our eDiscovery platform (leveraging AI/continuous active learning and reporting) to surface results within the legislated timeframe, thereby enabling our client to act on their findings.
AI-driven forensic analytics for preliminary suspect identification
First, we used computer assisted audit techniques (CAATs) to extract procurement and vendor information. We then worked to understand the internal controls and risks at play. From here, we ran both custom and database forensic analytics routines against the data to find procedural outliers, exceptions and other red flags.
Investigators then discussed these red flags with the client, identifying six key suspects for further investigation.
Onsite device imaging and accelerated AI-driven data processing/review
Going onsite, in-country, the Salient team imaged all six suspects’ laptops and mobile devices. This information was then processed into our eDiscovery platform, where we used a combination of AI/continuous active learning and dashboard reporting to accelerate review.